MARA Yamauchi targeted a British one-two at this year’s World Championships after a breakthrough performance at yesterday’s Flora London Marathon saw her claim second place.

Yamauchi boasts an impressive record over the last two years, but finally emerged out of the shadow of the absent Paula Radcliffe with her display in a worldclass field.

The 35-year-old Japanbased star not only lived up to her pre-race prediction that she could achieve a top-three finish, but easily clinched the silver medal behind Irina Mikitenko.

The German defending champion took charge of the race in the final six miles to become the first woman to retain her title since Radcliffe in 2003.

Mikitenko, who had already pulled Yamauchi clear from 2007 champion Zhou Chunxiu, then set about destroying the ambitions of the home favourite.

Yamauchi fought resolutely, but her rival’s surges gradually opened what became a winning gap as she forged ahead to win in two hours 22 minutes 11 seconds – a world leading time for the year.

Behind her Yamauchi gave every ounce of energy she had, but eventually had to settle for second place, striking almost two minutes from her previous best with a mark of 2hrs 23mins 12secs.

Now Yamauchi, the first home athlete other than Radcliffe to finish in the top two since since Liz McColgan’s silver 11 years ago, is gearing up for the world championships.

And she believes if Radcliffe is fully recovered from a foot injury, they can stand side by side on the medal rostrum.

‘‘I think Berlin will be a superfast course, which is good for me,’’ said Yamauchi.

‘‘Great Britain could win two medals in Berlin – that would be quite a result.’’ Yamauchi refused to compare herself to Radcliffe, saying: ‘‘Paula’s CV is totally different from my CV.’’ Much will depend on how Radcliffe fights her way back after an operation prevented her from chasing a fourth London success.

The 35-year-old will move to Font Romeu this week to start serious training before making her comeback.

Certainly Yamauchi, who finished well clear of Russia’s Liliya Shobukhova, who clocked 2:24.24 to finish third on her debut, believes she can continue to challenge up until the London Olympics.

‘‘To run in an Olympics in your own country is very special,’’ she said. ‘‘I hope I will still be around.

‘‘I’ve been improving for the last four or five years and if I can improve to 2hrs 20mins by 2012, I believe I can challenge for a medal.’’ ■ Durham City Harrier Ian Crampton just failed in his bid for a hat-trick of over-45 London veterans’ championships, despite running his fastest marathon.

The 47-year-old knocked 17 seconds off his personal best time to finish 56th in 2 hours 30 mins 23 secs, only to be beaten by first-year over-45 and former British Masters steeplechase champion Nicholas Martyn, of Highgate Harriers, who finished 43rd in 2:28:41.

Other North-East finishers included: 154 Darren Purvis (Chester-le-Street) 2:38:47; 177 Alisdair Tatham (Quakers) 2:40:07; 211 Gary Jones (Morpeth) 2:41:50; 212 Keith Robertshaw (ClS) 2:41:50; 256 Gordon Dixon (Morp) 2:43:35; 320 Daniel Flint (Blaydon) 2:46:20; 348 Paul Waterston (Morp) 2:47:10; 377 Graham Bell (Elswick) 2:48:09.

Results

Men’s Marathon: 1 Samuel Wanjiru (Ken) 2hrs 05mins 10secs, 2 Tsegaye Kebede (Eth) 2:05:20, 3 Jaouad Gharib (Mar) 2:05:27, 4 Emmanuel Mutai (Ken) 2:06:53, 5 Hendrick Ramaala (Rsa) 2:07:45, 6 Abderrahim Goumri (Mar) 2:08:24, 7 Yonas Kifle (Eri) 2:08:28, 8 Atsushi Sato (Jpn) 2:09:16, 9 Meb Keflezighi (USA) 2:09:21, 10 Felix Limo (Ken) 2:09:47 Women’s Marathon: 1 Irina Mikitenko (Ger) 2hrs 22mins 11secs, 2 Mara Yamauchi (Gbr) 2:23:12, 3 Liliya Shobukova (Rus) 2:24:24, 4 Svetlana Zakharova (Rus) 2:25:06, 5 Berhane Adere (Eth) 2:25:30, 6 Inga Abitova (Rus) 2:25:55, 7 Catherine Ndereba (Ken) 2:26:22, 8 Tomo Morimoto (Jpn) 2:26:29, 9 Gete Wami (Eth) 2:26:54, 10 Lyudmila Petrova (Rus) 2:27:42